Willow celebrates Women's History Month with 2nd Annual Tampon Drive

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Willow celebrates Women's History Month with 2nd Annual Tampon Drive

Willow Fashion at 843 Upshur Street NW is sponsoring their 2nd Annual Tampon Drive to collect the menstrual products for those who can’t easily afford to purchase them. The event is in celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day and benefits the District Alliance for Safe Housing. It’s the store’s way of honoring women and ensuring they have access to basic necessities.

You can drop off tampon and pad donations at both of Willow’s shops all month. If you donate 100+ products on or after International Women’s Day (March 8th), you’ll get a free sticker patch of an inspiring woman.

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Man chases a family at Sherman Circle after telling woman her baby was beautiful

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Man chases a family at Sherman Circle after telling woman her baby was beautiful

According to resident, a man sitting on a bench at Sherman Circle approached her and her young daughter at Sherman Circle on Monday afternoon, March 11th, and then wouldn’t leave them alone, eventually chasing them to EL Haynes for safety.

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Christine Lilyea finds her dream job and an unexpected treasure at Slash Run

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Christine Lilyea finds her dream job and an unexpected treasure at Slash Run

With years of experience managing restaurants and music venues, Christine Lilyea realized what started out as just a job became a career. When she took over Slash Run in 2018 after managing it for two years, she knew she found her dream job. She manages both the kitchen and the front of the house, it’s lot work.

"But I'm up for it," she says. "I didn't know this was going to be as difficult as it is, but I just don't stop. I keep going. As long as I keep pushing, it works."

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ANC 4C March 13th meeting draft agenda

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ANC 4C March 13th meeting draft agenda

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4C has it’s next meeting on Wednesday, March 13th, 6:30-9pm at the Petworth Library. Their draft agenda is below:

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Anna Bran-Leis starts a second act and finds culinary and personal success

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Anna Bran-Leis starts a second act and finds culinary and personal success

“There are so many challenges to being a woman in the culinary industry,” Anna said. “You don’t know how many times we go to events and set up tasting stations, and my sous chef is a guy, and they come up and say, "‘Hey chef,” talking to him. You’re automatically, as a woman, not given the same respect and the same recognition.”

Anna appreciates where she is now and what the future holds. She believes in helping others, like younger female entrepreneurs. “You have to reach back,” she said. “Whether she’s an immigrant or she’s not. The next generation of women that are coming up behind us, it’s our job as women, that they’re better than we are. That they surpass anything that we’ve done. We reach back and we help them.”

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Hannah Oliver Depp shows how passion becomes a happy livelihood

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Hannah Oliver Depp shows how passion becomes a happy livelihood

Raised to focus on hard work by self-described hippie parents, home schooled, with a large extended family, Hannah was taught the benefit of the do-it-yourself mantra and being immersed in being busy. Self-determination and "anything is possible if you work hard enough" mixes with a strong inner (and outwardly focused) passion.

“I can make something out of nothing,” she laughs. “You give me a hot glue gun… we’re going to have a store.”

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Holley Simmons, Petworth's 'Petal Pusher,' doubles down on Upshur Street

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Holley Simmons, Petworth's 'Petal Pusher,' doubles down on Upshur Street

It had been six days since the blockbuster opening of her flower shop, She Loves Me, and Holley Simmons was freaking out a little. The Upshur block felt sleepy that Friday under a coat of fresh snow, and Simmons had decided to let her employees stay home. Then, suddenly, the delivery and Valentines Day flower orders started pouring in.

“Shit.”

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Upshur's 'veteran,' Julie Wineinger, is learning to juggle everything on the road to success

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Upshur's 'veteran,' Julie Wineinger, is learning to juggle everything on the road to success

I walked into Lulabelle’s Sweet Shop on a sunny Friday afternoon to interview owner Julie Wineinger about what it’s like to be a woman business owner. Before I could even sit down, the scene before me spoke volumes: there was Julie, one hand on her laptop, fielding questions from her staff behind the counter while discreetly nursing her five-week-old son inside a cloth carrier.

It was the epitome of the juggling act that every working mom performs, and is even more acute when that new mom is a business owner.

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Update meeting about Hebrew Home development ("Spring Flats")

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Update meeting about Hebrew Home development ("Spring Flats")

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Chair Bennett Hilley wrote to the local listservs about an upcoming meeting to discuss the redevelopment of the Hebrew Home (now known as the Spring Flats development).

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Dani Moreira accidentally starts a business and becomes Petworth's 'Carb Queen'

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Dani Moreira accidentally starts a business and becomes Petworth's 'Carb Queen'

Now that she’s broken through, Dani Moreira gets a sense of satisfaction working alongside other immigrants and showing them that there is a way up the ladder.

“I enjoy seeing all these women next to me and showing them there is a future,” Moreira says. “As an immigrant, showing other immigrants that they don’t have to be stuck washing dishes.”

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Ouley Beye came to America and found her place on Upshur Street

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Ouley Beye came to America and found her place on Upshur Street

What appears to drive Ouley Beye as a business owner is greater than just being profitable. She loves to empower others to fulfill their dreams. “It’s still going to be a dream until you make it happen,” she said.

Ouley proudly states, “If I can make it, anyone can.”

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‘Thrifty Fia’ Thomas sounds off on having it all

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‘Thrifty Fia’ Thomas sounds off on having it all

Fia Thomas runs her successful vintage and used clothing shop, Fia’s Fabulous Finds, while working a full-time government job and raising two daughters. But she says the hard work is worth it.

“I’m really a business owner who has it all,” she says. “I’m married with kids, and I have a passion that I’m pursuing.”

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Carlie Steiner: The cocktail maven of Petworth's Himitsu

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Carlie Steiner: The cocktail maven of Petworth's Himitsu

Of the women I interviewed for these series, Steiner is the most outspoken and unapologetic feminist. Her wines are female, her staff is free to kick sleazy men out of the restaurant at will, and she doesn’t care if you don’t like it.

“You can be hospitable and still stand up for yourself,” she says.

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Anne Stom: Petworth’s 'Miss Fix-It' makes it happen

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Anne Stom: Petworth’s 'Miss Fix-It' makes it happen

 The story of Annie’s Ace Hardware is the classic tale of “build it and they will come.” Stom noticed that more and more people are moving to the neighborhood, most of the houses need renovation, and there’s no hardware store nearby.

So, Stom decided to open one.

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